Is Your
Heart Set On An Antique Engagement Ring?
By
Alex Miller
As Mark Twain
said "Let us not be too particular; it is better to have old
secondhand diamonds than none at all." And don't we all agree?
Antique
engagement rings have become all the rage in recent years,
particularly with famous brides like Madonna, Catherine
Zeta-Jones and Camilla Parker-Bowles all sporting
vintage-inspired engagement rings.
We have the
Victorians to thank for introducing the diamond engagement ring
as THE ring to wear and many of those early designs are now
being copied and updated for today's modern fiancée. But before
you rush out and buy that to-die-for antique engagement ring,
there are a few things to keep in mind.
Tips when
choosing an antique engagement ring
The settings
used in the manufacture of modern engagement rings are very
different from those used last century. Antique settings often
involved fine filigree work and delicate designs that weren't
meant for much wear-and-tear. These delicate settings will have
become even more delicate over time and there's many a story
about the starry-eyed soon-to-be-bride who has been heartbroken
when her precious antique engagement ring proved even more
precious than she had thought.
If you want a
genuine vintage engagement ring make sure you have it assessed
by a qualified jeweler so that any damage can be corrected and
the settings strengthened. You may even need to have the stone
or stones re-mounted.
Diamond cuts
have also changed dramatically over the years. Contemporary
diamond cutters use modern faceting techniques to show a diamond
off at its brilliant best. Although a diamond will sparkle even
when its been poorly cut, don't expect the same razzle-dazzle
you see today from the diamonds in antique engagement rings.
Also keep in
mind that antique engagement rings were often made with stones
that don't stand the test of time. Turquoise is a gem to steer
clear of because it has a nasty reputation for discoloration. As
do pearls, which lose their sheen and opals, which will
gradually wear away.
Another thing
to be wary of is that lesser-quality garnets were often marketed
as rubies in vintage engagement rings, so be sure to have your
ring valued if you badly want a ruby-red engagement ring.
An antique
engagement ring is not a ring you can wear every day in our
rough-and-tumble world, but it's preciousness makes it a
treasure that, with the right care, will give you pleasure every
day for a lifetime.
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